T Dilip, the newly-appointed fielding coach of Mumbai Indians (MI), has said that his existing relationships with the franchise's star players will ease his transition into the setup — but stopped short of treating familiarity as a shortcut. Speaking ahead of IPL 2027, Dilip emphasised that earning a lasting place in the dressing room demands consistent daily effort, not prior acquaintance.

From India's Dressing Room to Wankhede

Dilip arrives at MI with considerable pedigree. As fielding coach of the Indian men's national team, he was part of three ICC title victories — the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026 and the 2025 Champions Trophy. A significant portion of that golden run came under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, setting up a reunion of sorts at MI, where Rohit is a franchise icon.

Dilip replaces Carl Hopkinson in the role, a change the franchise confirmed ahead of the upcoming season. He will work under new head coach Kieron Pollard, another figure closely associated with Mumbai Indians' legacy.

What Dilip Said About Earning His Place

'I have worked with Rohit as a captain when I started, then Surya as a captain, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, you name anyone, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur. So acquaintance is always there, that really helps. But trust me, acquaintance helps you to come into the dressing room. But to earn that place in the dressing room, I think it's an everyday work,' he said in a video posted on the franchise's social media accounts on Friday.

He added: 'Like, hard work, what we do and relationship and how can I help the team to take forward, whether it's through culture or work. That is where I want to earn that back again.'

Building Trust Off the Field

Dilip was candid about the pace at which trust develops in a professional dressing room. 'Mumbai badge is a privilege and as well as a responsibility. As a Mumbai Indians team, I want to build fielding as an attacking weapon in the field. I think everything revolves around the culture, and trust doesn't happen overnight,' he said.

'It's built over a period, because it's not only just what happens on the field, but I think how we interact and spend time with each other off the field, because it gives you an insight about what that person thinks,' he added. This philosophy echoes the approach that defined India's fielding standards during his tenure with the national side, where the team became notably sharper in close-catching and ground fielding across all three formats.

The 'One Percent' Philosophy

Dilip also outlined his coaching vision for MI, focusing on the marginal gains that rarely appear in match highlights. 'We generally see catches, we generally see run-outs. Once players recognise that it's not the spectacular highlights which is highlighted, but the 1 percent factors which can impact a game, then automatically they will put in those efforts,' he explained.

He wants training sessions to create an environment where players enjoy the field and stay engaged even on days when their primary skills — batting or bowling — are not firing. 'Sometimes you may have a bad day in your primary skills, whether batting or bowling, but still you can impact a game through fielding,' he said.

Fielding Medal and Wankhede Expectations

On the famous fielding medal that became a fixture in India's dressing room under his watch, Dilip struck a measured note. He said he would first understand MI's existing traditions and consult head coach Kieron Pollard before deciding whether to introduce it. 'I feel end of the day, I am new to this Mumbai Indians setup, and as we know that there are certain traditions which already go,' he noted.

He also acknowledged that recent results at the Wankhede Stadium had not met fan expectations, while expressing confidence that the team could turn it around. 'I know at times, the results have not gone in the favour where they are quite happy because expectations of Mumbai Indians was high, but I'm sure with the support of them and with the calibre and effort we try to put, we make sure that we bring back the smiles on their face,' he said. With IPL 2027 on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether Dilip can translate his national-team success into renewed silverware for one of the tournament's most decorated franchises.